Explosive and other engine.



T. R. MOORE.

EXPLOSIVE AND OTHER ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APRA, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' 'Arm/giver Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

T.'R. MOORE. EXPLOSIVE AND OTHER ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED APRA, 1908.

Qg, Patented Mar.7,1911.

z sHBBTs-SHEBT 2.

i. `The object of my invention is to provide a novel, etlicient and comparatively inexpensive engine, comprising a shaft, a tlv wheel or fram-e thereon having a polygonal opening in a part thereof defining a plurality ot' equal sides (asan illustration, tour) a set of cylinders stationary within the vertical' plane of said opening, and a setwot' pistons in said cylinders and connected at their outer ends in a slidable manner to the edge walls of said opening, with proper inlet and exhaust ports. luring the operation of the engine two opposite pistons will move out-v wardly under the force of an explosion to drive the ily-wheel frame and shaft; While at the sanie time two other opposite pistons will loe drawn (uitwardly loy the rotating frame to draw in a charge of explosive mixture, all the pistons moving outwardly together and inwardly together, and said frame when its opening haslfour equal sides receiving four impulses during each of its rotations. luring the inward movement of the pistons two opposite ones'thereot discharge the burned gases from their cylinders, while two other opposite ones thereof compress the charge of explosive mixture in their cylinders preparatory to ignition.

The invention willlbe fully understood from the detailed"description hereinafter presented7 reference being had to the aceompanying drawings7 in which:

Figure 1 is a 'central vertical longitudinal section of an engine constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same on the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 2 shows the rotary power-transmitting traine having made a one-eighth rotation from its position shown in lTig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view.J partly broken away and partlyv in section. et the saine and denotes by the dotted line 1.1 the section on which llig. 1 is taken; l is a detached side ele vation of one of tl1e pistons of the engine; liig. is ay central vertical transverse section through the same; Fig. t3 a detached front elevation, partly broken away, of the frame of engine cylinders; the latter radiating troni a central huh, the tace ot `which is shown; Fig. 7 is a detached face' viewy of a valve-chest which in use is placed against 4the tace of the hup shown-in Fig. G; Fig is a vertical section'f'ot the saine on the dotted lin'e 8 8 of Fig. 7;-l+`ig. 9 is a detached face view or elevation ot'a cap-plate which; when in use, is secured against the face o't vthe chest shown in Figs. 7 and 8; Fig. 10 is anI edge view oit' the saine; Fig. 11 is a detached tace view of a cam plate intended for cooperation with the exhaust valve stems of the engine; Fig. 12 is an edge view of the saine; Fig. 13 is a side elevation of aportion ot the engine shaft with the reversing lever thereon,-and Fig. 1l is an enlarged detached sectional viewof the cam intended for coopera tion with the exhaust valve stems.

ln the drawings, 15 designates an engine vshaft to be driven from a rotary traine 1G keyed thereon and which is rotated 'tronrthe pistons 17, 18 adapted to reciprocate within cylinders 19, 2O radiating troni a huh Q1. mounted upon said shaft 15 hat not rotatable therewith7 the huh 21 and cylinders 19, :20 always remaining stationary while the frame 1G and shaft 15 are rotatable. rlhe trame 1G comprises a huh' 22, radial spokes 23 and ay peripheral rim 2l within which; by means of bolts 25, -is secured a plate 2G which has a circular outer edge tit.- ting' within the outer edge of thel rim Q41-, as shown in Fig. 1, and a rectangular or polygonal central opening i7 (Figs. 2 and) which encompasses the pistons 17; 18 and cylinders 19, 20, said plate Q6 heiligen the central vertical plane of said pistons and cylinders;

The inner polygonal edge portions of the plate 26 are formed in looth sides with corresponding grooves 28, and the-'outer ends of the pistons 17, 18 are biturcated to straddle said portions of said plate 26 and carry at their outer ends rollers 2) confined within said grooves and inwardly from said outer ends, rollers which engage the inner edges of said plate 2G dealing the opening ,f t said frame.

27 therein. In the present instance the opening 27 in the plate 26 is formed with four equal sides, and l provide four pistonsV and four cylinders for acting on said plate Ato drive the frame 16, each side of said opening being engaged by one piston.

The edge ot' each side of the opening 27 tapers slightly from its center toward its ends, and this feature of the construction is to enable the roller 30 of each piston to always follow said edge during the rotation of the frame 16. When opposite sections of the grooves 28 are at right angles to the pistons, as shown in Fig. 3, the rollers 29, 30 of the pistons respectively engage the walls of said sections and the adjacent inner edges of the opening 27, and when the frame 16 makes a partial rotation carrying.

said sections to, say, the angular ordiagonal position shown in Fig. 2, the rollers 30 would bind against the trame except for the tapering of the edges of the sides of the opening 27. The distance between the rollers 29, 30 is iixed, and as opposite sections of the grooves 28 move from the right angular position shown in Fig. 3.to the diagonal position shown in Fig. 2 thevertical lines denoting the thickness of metal be# tween the said groove-sections and the inner 0 adjacent edges of the opening 27 pass diagonally through the inner edges of the plate 26 and hence the, situation requires either a tapering oit the edges of the sides of the opening 27 or a like tapering of the sections `of the grooves 28 to enable the rollers 29, 30 to follow both the grooves and the edge of the opening 27 without ybinding against either. v1`he inal edect is that the plate 26 has an inner polygonal operative outline 0 or wall composed of equal straight sides :for

cooperation with pistonsfoppositely arranged in pairs, said outline being deiied by the walls of the grooves 28'if they have straight sections, as shown, or by th'eedges of the opening 27 if its sides are straight and the said groove sections tapered, and said outline or wall being shown in the drawings as a square or rectangle. f

The pistons 17, 18 are suitably packed or equipped with 'rings of usual character, and in the operation of the engine the upper and lower pistons 17 move outwardly within /their cylinders 19 to draw in the motive Huid, while the right and left hand or hori- Zontal pistons 18 travel outwardly within their cylinders under the force of an explosion, the upper and lower pistons and right and left hand pistons thus having corresponding strokes, one set of pistons being drawn outwardly by the frame '16 to create l suction and the other set of pistons being impelled outwardly to impart rotary motion While one set of pistons move inwardly and expel the burned gases 65 from their cylinders, the other set of pisfrom said bed.

Awith the p @saam in pairs communicate with one another, the

upper and lower cylinders 19 being in communication with eachother through vertical por-ts 31 and the horizontal cylinders being in communication with each other through ports 32, which ports are in the form of passages extending through the hub 21 at opposite sides ot' the bore for the shaft 15. The upper and lower cylinders' 19 communicate at their inner ends witheach other and the cylinders 20 at their inner ends communicate with each other, but the cylinders 19 do not communicate with the. cylinders 20.

The sha-ft 15 is supported in a suitable bearing 33 from the engine bed 34 and also by'having a bearing in the valve chest 35, plate 36 and'hub 21, which are supported The frame 16 is in the nature of a liy-wheel.

yThe valve chestissecurcd against the outer face of the hub 21as shown in Fig. l, and upon the outer face of the valve chest 35 is secured the plate 36 through which the valve stems, hereinafter designated, extend and which plate is provided with a suction port 37 for all of the cylinders and an exhaust'port 38 for all ofthe cylinders (Figs. 9 and 10). The valve chest 35 is formed in its outer face with segmental chambers 39, 40, as shownin Figs. 7 and 8, andA on its inner face with segmental chambers 41, 42, which correspond with the chambers 39,

-40 but are set oiE therefrom, as thedotted liuestor the chambers 41, 42 in Fig. 7 indicate. One end of the outer chamber 39 is connected by a port 43 with one end of the chamber 41, and the other end of the chamber 41 is connected with the cham-ber 40 by a port 44, and the other end of the chamber 40 is connected by a port 45 with one end of the inner chamber 42, whose other end is, by a port 46, connected with the chamber 39 at that end thereof opposite to the port 43. The uter plate 36 is formed with four nipples 4% vs 43, 44, 45, 46'and furnish bearings for the'valve stems 48, 49 for the valves 150, 51 which control said ports 43, 44, 45, 46, said valve stems being provided on. their outer ends with coiled springs Fig. 1) for normally seating said valves.v

- inlet port 37 leads into the chamber 39 of the valve chest 35, and the exhaust port 38 leads from the chamber 40 in said chest. In the which are respectively in line iloA hub 21 which carries the 'cylinders are formed 130 I tended to receive such fluid. the ports 44, l15 are exhaust valves and they two ports 50 (Fig. (i) one .of which commu? nicates at one end with the upper cylinder 19 and at its other end is in hue with the portin the chest 35, while tue other port vwhich control the ports 113, are suction valves and they close automatically under. the torce of their springs. The suction valves are not mechanically opened, but are always controlled on the inlet of the motive fluid by the suction created by' the outwardly ,moving pistons oit the cylinders in- The valves for are always mechanically operated to open by means .ot' a cam 52 mounted on and rotating with the shaft 15. The ports 50 operate as both suctioiror inlet and exhaust ports, the suction taking Aplace in thrpugh the upper port 50 when the two vertical cylinders are to be supplied with the'motiveluid and in through thelower port when the two horizontal cylinders are to be supplied with the motive fluid, and the exhaust is through the upper port 50 when the two Vertical cylinders are to bc-clcared of the products ot' combustion and out through the lower port 50 when the horizontal cylinders are to be .cleared of the products of combustion.

'lhe cam rotates with the shaft 15 and is formed with cam surfaces at its upper and lower ends to engage at the proper time the rollers carried on the out-er ends of the exhaust valve-stems, these exhaust valves being mechanically opened by the movement ot' the cam 52 against their stems. The cam 52 will be adjusted angularly on the shaft 1,5 in accordance with the direction of mtion it is intended the engine shall have, and this adjustment or setting of the cam 52 is accomplished by the movement of a reversing lever 53, a slide 54 connected therewith and arranged. to move in a keyhway 55 formed in the shaft 15, a pin 56 carried by said slide, and a spiral groove 57 formed in the hub of the cam :2 in posit-ion to be en gaged by said pin 56. Bymoving the lever 53, slide 54 and pin 5G in one direction, said 'pin vwill actuate the cam 52 to make a oneeighth turn on the shaft and thereby set the cam for opening the exhaust Valves at the proper time under one `direction of motion oit the rotary frame '16, and by moving said lever 53, slide 54. and pin 56 in Vthe opposite direction, the said pin .will restore said 1 and all or' the pitons l?, 15; move outwardly at one time; two opposite'pistons then drawingv in the motive fluid int-o their cylinders, while the other two opposite pistons are moving outwardly under the torce ci an explosion; when the latter set ot pis tons more .inwardly they expelthe burned gases trom their cylinders, and at the same time the other set ot pistons moving invardly compress the tl uid within their cylinders preparatoryto an explosion.

It we assumethat the upper .and lower pistons 17, shown in Fig. 2, are moving outwardly,'being drawn outwardly by the then rotating frame 1G. to suck in motive fluidl and that the twov horizontal pisto s plosion, we will Ahave the following conditions with respect to the valves and chai-nbers of the valve chest Since the upper and lower pistons 17 vare moving outwardly to create suction, the inlet for motive vlluid will be through the port 87 in the plate 3G to the chamberlt) in the outer tace otl the valve chest 35, thence through the port 43 (the valve o-t` which was opened by the suction) into the chamber il and upper port 50 lea( ing to the upper cylinder 1t), whence the motive fluid will pass through the passages 31 to also supply the lower Cylinder 19. The expansion ot' gas due to the explosion in the .horizontal cylinders Q0, by its force, acts to keep the valve at the port 116 and also the -valve at the port closed; the expanded gas illlng the lower port and. chamber 42,

of the valve clicst and exerting pressure against the valves at said ports 46, 45. Under the conditions stated a suction may take place through the chamber 39, port 43, chamber il and upper port 50 into the upper and thence into the lower cylinder 19, while.

the ignited gases are expanding in the two horizontal cylinders 20.

Upon the iii-strokes of all of the pistons, following the condition just'abo've described, the upper and lowerpistons 17- will compress their charges and the horizontal pistons 18 will clear their cylinders.` During` the inwardV movement of the upper and lower pistons 17 to con'ipress their charges, thc gases therein will i port and chamber 1l-1 against the valves at the ports 43 and 44 and maintain the same closed, so that there Ymay be no outlet for the gases under compression and no communication from the cylinders 19 to the cylinders 20. During the inward movement of the pistons 18v to clear their cylin,

ders, the burned gases are forced outwardly through the lower port 50 into the innerchamber 42 of the Valvechest 35 and thence 1S are n'ioving outwardly under the force ot' an exact through the upper through the port 45 into the outer chamber 40 of said chest and thence directly out through the exhaust port 38, the valve for the port .45 being opened to connect the' chamber 42 with the chamber 40 by the action'of the lrotating cam 52 against' the stem of said valve. .When the upper and lower pistons 17 immediately thereafter move outwardly under the force of an eX- plosion within their cylinders, they act to rotate the frame 16 and theexpanded gases within them till'the upper port 50 and chamber 41 and maintain the valves a-t the ports 43, 44 closed.

Vhile the upper and lower pistons are moving' outwardly under the force of an,

explosion, `they rotate the frame 16 and the latter draws the two horizontal pistons outwardly (they having cleared their cylinders) and this Qntward movement of said pression will till the lower port 50 and chamber 42 and will act to firmly maintain thevalves at the ports 46, 45 in closed position. During the inward movement of the upper and lower pistons 17 to clear their cylinders, the discharge will take place through the upper port 50, chamber 41, por 44 and chamber 40 of the valve chest, said chamber 40 having the exhaust port 38 connected with it. The exhaust from the series of ports and chambers just identilied/is permitted by the fact that the cam 52 at the proper time opens` the valve for the port 44 so that the exhaust gases entering the chamber 41 may pass therefrom into the chamber 40 and thence escape throughthe port 38. The pistons 18 having moved inwardly to compress the charge and the pistons 17 having moved inwardly to clear their cylinders, an explosion will occur in the ,cylinders 20 to move the pistons 18 outwardly again, thereby to impart rotary motion to the frame 16, which will draw the pistons 17 outwardly to suck in an additional charge of the motive fluid. The inlet to and discharge from the upper and lower cylinders 19 and the inlet to and discharge from theA horizontal cylinders 20through the valve chest 43 have been fully explained above.

The engine will be provided with suitable sparking devices 58 for igniting the compressed chargesat the proper time. AThe ignition takes place in the upper and lower ports 50, into which the spark-plugs extend, y

(Fig. 1). An explosion in the upper port 50 results in the expanded gases acting against both pistons 17, since as hereinbefore explained the cylinders 19 thereof are in communication with each other. An ex.- plosion iin the lower port 56 results in the expanded gases passing into both of the horizontal cylinders 20, driving thepistons 18 Vthereof outwardly, since said cylinders 2O are in vdirect communication with each other. Y

The rotary frame 16 by reason of its polygonal opening 27 and the connection of the edge portions thereof with all the pistons, will havemotion imparted to it by the opposite pistons moving outwardly under the. force of anexplosion and will' at the same time` draw the otheropposite pistons outwardly to suck a charge ofthe ,motive fluid into their cylinders. The continued rotation of the frameY '16 under the momentum imparted to it (moving from the position shown in Fi/g. 2 tothat shown in Figs. 1 and 3) will force all the pistons inwardly, "and thereupon an explosion will take place in two r/opposite cylinders and their pistons will be forced outwardly and impart further rotary force `to the frame 16, which then moving to the position shown in Fig. 2 will draw the other two pistons outwardly on their suction strokes.

In the example of the invention illustrated the frame 16 has an opening 27 possessin... tour equal sides, and there are four pistons, one to always be in engagement with oneof said sides, and four cylinders or said pistons. There are two inlet valves, one for the port 43 which supplies the uppe'r and lower vertical cylinders, and one for the port 46 which supplies the horizontal cylinders; and there are two exhaust valves, one for the port 44 through which the products of combustion escape from the said vertical cylinders, and one for the port 45 through which the burned gases discharge from the said horizontal cylinders.

Since the opening 27 in the `fly-wheel frame 16 has four equal sides, each rotation thereof will result in all the pistons being forced inwardly (Fig. 3) four times during such rotation, and sincey on each inward movement of said pistons an explosion occurs in two opposite cylinders to drive thein pistons `outwardly to rotate said frame 16 (Fig. 2), there will be four explosions during each rotation of the'frame 16 and the latter will receive four impulses during each of its rotations.

The inward movement of the pistons oocurs during about one-eighth of a rotation of the {1y-wheel frame 16 or while the said frame is turning from its position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the outward movement of the pistons Vtakes place while the frame 16 is making a further one-eighth rotation or turning from the position shown-in Fig. 2 to that illustrated in Fig. 3; and it is to be noticed that the sides oi the openingl 27 move toward a' posi 'tion at right angles to the longitudinal planes of the respective pistons when driving said pistons inwardly, and that duringl the outivard i'nov'ement of the pistons said sides move toward an angle of forty-ve degrees thereto, thus enabling the pistons which are moving outwardly under the force ot' an explosion to exert theirpower against Cir gine comprisinga frame 16 having four equal sides and to the employment therewith ot four pistons, since in the foregoing description il.. have only meantlto comply with' the law in presenting a detailed description of the best en'ibodiment of the invention at present kno-wn to me. Obviously the open- 27 may have six or more equal sides without necessarily increasing the number et pistons and cylinders, if it should be desired to increase the number ot impulses imparted to the frame 16 during each of its rotations.

duplicate on the same shaft if desired, and` lhe engines may also be used in when so duplicated l recommend that a set of the pistons of one engine be timed to actl l on'l their rotary frame the moment a set of pistons ot the other engine cease to act on the rotary frame of their engine. Under this timing` of the pistons of the respective' engines there would be no possibility at any time of a dead center. When one engine A only is on the sha it, momentum is depended on to prevent'dead centering.

Vilhat lf claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. fin engine comprising a. shaft to be driven, a rotary driving' frameV connected therewith having a polygonal opening and allording a polygonal bearingsurface, a series\ol" pairs 'of oppositely arranged stationary cylinders, pistons in said cylinders having 'outwardly exteudiingr portions, means slidably connecting` the outwardly extendportions olf opposite pistons with relaively .similar portions of said iraniennd polygonal beariiip; surface atloided me all of said pistons will move outly and inwardly in unison, and suitinlet and exhaust port connections .relay/7, whereby during the rotation of said i sensi ranged to enable one pair of opposite pis tons on their outward stroke toY suck in the explosive mixture and anotlnt. pair ot oppositepistons, due to the explosionin the cylinders conlininejthem, to move outwardly and imlpelsaid liiame and whereby when all said pistons are pressed inwardly by said frame the said suction pistons compress their mixture and saidinniellingl pistons exhaust Atheirfcylinders; substantially as set forth.

2. An engine conipi'isinga shaft to be driven, a. rotary driving frame connected therewith and having` a polygonal opening and in opposite vfaces continuous grooves eX- tending along said opening, a series of pairs of 'oppositely arranged stationary cylinders, pistons in said cylinders having outwardly extending portions,l rollers carried on the loutwardly extending portions of said pis` tons and respectively engaging the edge of said opening and extending .into said grooves and thereby connectingthe oppositepistons with relatively similar portions of said traino. whereby during the rotation of said trameall of said pistons will move outwardly and inwardly m unison, and suitable inlet and exhaust port connections arranged to enable one pair of opposite pistons on their outward stroke to suck in the explosive mixture and another pair of opposite pistons, due to the explosion in the cylinders confining; them, to move outwardly and iinpel said frame and whereby when all said pistons are pressed inwardly by said frame the said suction pistons compress their mixture and said-impelliu'g' pistons exhaust their cylinders; substantially as set forth.

8. An engine comprisinga shaft to be driven, a. rotary drivingtrame connected tlierewith having' a.' substantially rectangular equal-sided opening: and affording' a continuous bearing surfacev`v aI series oi pairs oi oppositely arranged stationary cylinders, pistons in` said cylinders having outwardly extending portions, means slidably connectingr the outwardly extending portions of said pistons with relatively similar portions of said frame and the polygonal bearing surface afforded thereby, whereby during' the rotation of said frame. all of said pistons will move outwardly and .inwardly in unison, and suitable inlet and exhaustport connections arranged to enable one pair ofbpposite pistons on their outward stroke to suck in the explosive Amixture and anotheiI pair of opposite pistons, due Vto the explo-- sion in the cylinders confiningl them, to move outwardly and impcl said trame and whereby when all said pistons are pressed inwardly by said 'traine the said suction pistons compress their mixture and said impeiling` pistons clear their cylinders; substantially as set forth.

il. .sin engine comprising a shaft to be drivema rotary traine connected therewith for driving the same and having bearing surfaces defining a continuous polygonal outline concentric with said shaft, a seriesof driven, a rotary frame connected therewith.

pairs of radial stationary cylinders iii communication with cach other in pairs'at their inner ends and a cylinder of eachpair having a port which serves as an inlet and exhaust port, pistons in said cylinders having outwardly extending portions', and means slidably connecting said outwardly extending portions of said pistonswith said frame and said' bearing surfaces, combined with a chest having in one side chambers 39, 40, in its opposite lside chambers 41, 42, ports 43, 46 and 44, 45 connecting said chambers 39, 40 .respectively at their ends with the ends of the'chambers 41, 42, a suction port 37 leading into the chamber 39 and anexliaust port 38 leading from the chamber. 40, suction-valves for the ports 43, 46 and exhaust-valves for the ports 44, 45, the 'said inlet-and-exhaust port for one VApair of cylinders being in line with the port 43' connecting the chambers 39, 41 and the one for the o` lier pair of cylinders being in line witl: the port 46 connecting said chambers '39, 42; substantially as set forth.

An engine comprising a'shaft to be driven, a rotary frame connected therewith for driving thesame and having bearing surfaces defining a continuous polygonal outline concentric with said shaft, a series of pairs of cylinders and pistons radially disposed with .respect to said' shaft for driving said frame, means slidably connecting out' wardly extending portions of said pistons with relatively similar portions of said bearing surfaces, whereby during the rotation of said yframe all of said pistons will move outwardly and inwardly in unison, and suitable inlet and exhaust ,port connections arranged to enable one pair of opposite pistons on their outward stroke to suck in the explosive mixture and another pair of opposite pistons, due to the explosion in the cylinders.

confining them, to move outwardly and impel said frame and whereby when all said pistons are pressed inwardly by said frame the said suction' pistons compress their mixture andy said impelling pistons exhaust their cylinders; substantially as "s/et forth.-

6. An engine comprising a shaft to be foi' drivingthe same and having bearing surfaces defining" a continuous :polygonal outline concentric with said shaft, a series of pairs of cylinders and pistons radially dis\ posed, with respect to said shaft for driving said frame, and means slidably connecting butwardly extending portions of said pistons with saidbearingsurfaces, saidcylinders .being stationary and provided withsuitable inlet and -exhaust ports and valves, Combined with a cam on said shaft for opening the exhaust valves, means for turning said cam for setting it to open said exhaust valvesl on a reversal of the engine, and springs for closing said inlet and exhaust valves. f A

7. An engine Comprising a shaft`to be driven, a rotary frame connected therewith l for driving the same and having bearing surfaces defining a continuous polygonal outline concentric with said shaft, a series of pairs of cylinders and pistons radially -disposed with respect to said shaft for driving said frame, and means slidably connecting outwardly extending portions of said pistons with said bearing surfaces, said cylinders being stationary and provided with suitable inlet and'exhaust ports and valves, combined with a' cam on said shaft for opening the exhaust valves, means for turning said cain for setting it to open said exhaust valves on a reversalof the engine, and

springs for closing said inlet and exhaust valves, said means for turning the cam'V coinprising a slide set in said shaft and carrying a stud, a spirally walled groove formed in. Y the hub of said cam to receive said stud, and

'a lever forjopei'ating said slide.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 1st day of April A. D. 1908. y

1 THOMAS R. MOORE. Witnesses:

ARTHUR/MARION,

Crissy C. Grilli;V 

